Hermaphroditic electrical contact

ABSTRACT

A hermaphroditic type electrical connector assembly that does not use the standard male and female connection. Instead of a single male pin, several fine wires are bundled together to form a brush contact. Similarly, the mating contact is comprised of several fine wires bundled into a brush. When the contacts are in mated relationship, the fine wires of the connector assembly are intermingled to complete the electrical circuit relationship between the mated contacts of the connector assembly.

I Unlted States Patent 1191 1111 3,725,844 McKeown et a1. 1451 Apr. 3,1973 s41 HERMAPHRODITIC ELECTRICAL 1,539,962 6/1925 Seufert etal..339/273 R CONTACT Re20,074 8/1936 Stahl 3,263,050 7/1966 Pilanz eta]...; ..220/l66 F [75] Inventors: James E. MeKeown; Stephen E.

Gregoire; Donald E. Michel, all of FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS705,831 3 1954 Great Britain ..174 90 Assigneez The Bendix Corporation,southfield 666,667 Great Britain ..l74/90 Mich 1,119,366 12/1961 Germany..174 s4.3

[ Filed! 1971 Primary Examiner--Marvin A. Champion AssistantExaminer-Terrell P. Lewis [2 1 App! No 12 Attorney-Raymond .I. Eifler,Pfante, Hartz, Sm1th and Thompson [52] US. Cl ..339/49 R, 174/84 S,174/90,

} 200/166, 339/108 TP [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. ..Il0lr 13/22, H011-25/00 A hermaphrodmc type electrical connector assembly [58] Field ofSearch ..339/28, 29, 47, 48, 49, 75,

339/64 65 95 99 101 I03 I08 no 58 that does not use the standard maleand female con- 278.T nection. Instead of a single male pin, severalfine wires are bundled together to form a brush contact. Similarly, themating contact is comprised of several [5 6] References Cited fine wiresbundled into a brush. When the contacts are UNITED STATES PATENTS inmated relationship, the fine wires of the connector 1 assembly aremtermmgled to complete the electrlcal 951,631 3/1910 Dake ..339/l08 TP Xircuit relationship between the mated contacts of the 2,461,980 Ilausen..339/47 R connecto .assembly 3,359,528 12/1967- Scholz ....339/255 R X2,276,571 3/1942 Grypma ..l74/90 X 20 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures'IIIIIIIIIIII PATEHTEUAPR3 197a SHEET 1 0F 2 FIGURE 2 FIGURE l E R S N1R MWL OEE T ERH m i a m E ED HL PA WWW Q/ JSD 3 E R U W F 3 0 w FIGURE 4PAIENIEDAPRB I975 3 725 44 SHEET 2 OF 2 In L,

FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6 FIGURE 7 JAMES E. MCKEOWN STEPHEN E. GREGOIRE DONALDE. MICHEL INVENTORS TTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to electrical connector assemblies for connecting a firstplurality of electrical conductors in predetermined circuit relationshipwith a second plurality of electrical conductors. This invention is moreparticularly related to a method and apparatus for improving theelectrical circuit relationship between the contact members of aconnector assembly. Specifically, the invention is related tohermaphroditic contacts for multiple-conductor cable connectors.

In order to link the operating units or components of an electricalinstallation, it is known to make use of multi-wire cables which areinterconnected by means of terminal connectors. Such coupling devicesare usually of the male and female type, the cable interconnectionsbeing made by properly mating male and female connectors. Departing fromthis standard approach, the inventor has invented a connector whichutilizes hermaphroditic mating contacts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a newhermaphroditic-type of electrical contact. The invention is anelectrical connector assembly characterized by electrical contacts.which are comprised of a bundle of several burr-free wires havingangled end portions. When the contact wires of each half of theconnector assembly are in mated relationship, the bundled wires of onecontact are intermingled with and in contact with the bundled wires ofanother contact, thereby establishing an electrical circuit relationshipbetween the contacts. In one embodiment of the invention, the electricalcontact comprises: an elongated conductor having an axial passage thatincludes an end passage portion that terminates in an openingat one endof the conductor and an interior passage portion, the end passageportion having a cross-sectional area larger than the cross-sectionalarea of the interior passage portion, and a plurality of electricalconducting wires axially mounted in the axial passage of the elongatedconductor and extending a predetermined distance beyond the end of theelongated conductor. The electrical conducting wires are spaced from thewall of the end portion of the axial passage in the elongated conductorto permit the spreading of the wires within the end portion of theelongated conductor passage when the wires are in mated relationshipwith the wires of a similar electrical contact. The wires of theconnector assembly are characterized by the fact that they are burr-freeand the end portions of each wire has an angled surface for facilitatingthe intermingling of the wire with other wires. 7

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an electricalconnector that relies upon her maphroditic mating contacts to establishthe electrical relationship between the plug and receptacle.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompaying drawings and claims which fonn a part of thisspecification.

. 2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram of a connectorassembly showing a partial cross-section of the receptacle and plug thatembody the objects of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of ahermaphroditic electrical contact which characterizes this invention.

FIG.3 is a magnified view of one of the contact wires shown in FIGS. 2,4, 5, 6, and 7.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of electrical contacts, which embodythe principles of this invention, in mated relationship.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another preferred embodiment of ahermaphroditic electrical contact which characterizes this invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of still another preferred embodimentof a hermaphroditic electrical contact which characterizes thisinvention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a double ended hermaphroditicelectrical contact which embodies the principles of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to the drawings, FIG.1 illustrates a connector assembly that is comprised of a first assembly1 and a second assembly 2, both of which embody the principles of theinvention.

The first assembly 1 comprises a housing 8 having a plurality ofpassages 23, a plurality of ducts 21 and 22 disposed in the passages 23,and an electrical connector contact 1 l disposed in each of said ducts21 and 22.

The housing 8 is generally comprised of a nonconducting material and maytake any particular configuration.

The ducts 21 and 22 are disposed within the passages 23 in apredetermined manner so that some of the ducts 21 extend out of thepassage 23 and other of the ducts 22 terminate within the passage 23. Inthis embodiment the position of the ducts 21 and 22 determine the maleand female portion of the assembly 1.

Located within each duct 21, 22 in an electrical contact 11 similar tothat shown in FIG. 2. The shoulder 17 of the electrical contact 11assists in positioning the electrical contact 11 in its proper placewithin the duct 21, 22. In the first assembly, the electrical contact 11 is located in the ducts 21 that extend out of the passage 23 so thatneither the housing 10 nor the wires 12 extend out of the duct 21. Theelectrical conductor 5 that is to be connected to another conductor isin electrical circuit relationship with the electrical contact 1 1.

Similarly, the second assembly 2 comprises a housing 9 having aplurality of passages 23 therein, a plurality of ducts 21 and 22 locatedin each of the housing passages 23, and an electrical contact 11 locatedin each of the 'ducts 21, 22. The shape of the housing 9 and thearrangement of the passages 23 are identical to the first assemblyhousing and passage arrangement so that the ducts 21 and 22 may enterthe passage 23 in assemblies 8 and 9 in a predetermined relationship.

In the second assembly 2 there are a plurality of ducts 22 thatterminate within the passage 23 of the second assembly 2. This is so thepassages 23 may receive ducts 21 from the first assembly 1. There arealso a plurality of ducts 21 that extend beyond the passage 23 formating with the passages 23 in the first assembly 1.

Located in each duct 21, 22 are electrical contacts 11. Extending beyondthe duct 22 is a portion of the housing and wires 12 of the electricalcontact 11 that will be inserted into the duct 21 when duct 21 isinserted into passage 23 of the second assembly 2.

A second conductor 6 is in circuit relationship with the electricalcontact 11 so that when the first assembly 1 is in mated relationshipwith the second assembly 2, the wires 12 of the first and secondassembly are intermingled with and in contact with each other wherebythe first electrical conductor 5 is in electrical circuit relationshipwithsaid second electrical conductor 6.

Although a plurality of ducts 21 and 22 and electrical contacts 11 areshown, this connector may also be used for connecting as few as twowires in electrical circuit relationship. Further, the first assembly 1could be arranged such that all the ducts 21 and 22 terminate within thepassages 23 making it a receptacle while all the ducts 21 and 22 locatedin the second assembly 2 may extend beyond the housing making it a plug.However, the combination of male and female contacts in each assemblymakes it possible to key one assembly to another so that only one matingrelationship is possible. Also, the ducts 21 and 22 could be'eliminatedfrom the assembly and the electrical contacts 11 placed directly into ahousing; In this regard, resilient inserts, adapted to receive andlocate the contacts 11 in a predetermined position would comprise theconnector assembly. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the

passages 23 and ducts 21 and 22 are used to align and 12 fill the innerportion B of the passage 13 and are crimped at one or morepoints 19 intoplace. However, they may be soldered or brazed into position so long asall of the wires 12 are in electrical circuit relationship with oneanother. The end portion A of the passage 13 has a larger axialcross-sectional area than the axial cross-sectional area of the interiorportion A of the' passage 13. This larger cross-sectional area providesa space between the wires 12 and theinner wall of the end portion of thepassage 13 for the spreading of wires 12 in a radial direction. Theopening at the end portion of the passage 13 is chamfered inwardly tofacilitate the passage of similar wires (not shown) into the end portionof the passage 13. When the wires of a similar assembly are axially inline with the wires 12 of this assembly, and an axial force is appliedthereto, the wires of this assembly expand within the confines of theend portion A of the housing passage 13 as the wires of the otherassembly enter the passage 13 and intermingle with the wires of thisassembly. This action completes the electrical circuit relationshipbetween the two assemblies.

Preferably, the distance D that the wires 12 extend beyond the housing10 is less than the length of the end portion A of the housing passage13. This will insure that when all wires 12 are in mated relationshipwith the wires of a similar contact they are surroundedby and supportedby the housing 10. This confines the wires 12 to a given space and helpsto prevent radical bending of the wires that prevents a wire fromentering the passage 13 in the housing 10 when the contacts are placedin mated relationship.

FIG. 3 is a magnified view of one of the wires 12 that are mounted in ahousing to accomplish the objects of this invention. In this embodiment,for ease of assembly, both ends of wire 12 have a tapered or an angledsurface 3 to facilitate sliding movement upon contact with the wires ofanother connector. The wire shown may be of any conducting materialdepending upon the strength and conductivity requirements. An example ofone preferred material is beryllium-copper wire having a silver coatingthereon. When berylliumcopper is used, it is preferred that for ahousing 1 I, having an outside diameter of about 0.060 inches, that thewires 12 have a length of about 0.375 inches and a diameter of about0.006 inches. In this embodiment, wires having a diameter less than 0.01inches and greater than 0.001 inches are preferred. As previouslymentioned, for structural purposes, it may be desirable to limit thelength of the wire 12 to a length that allows the wire 12 to extend adistance beyond the housing that is less than the length of the endportion (A,,FIG. 2) of the passage (13, FIG. 2).

FIG. 4 illustrates hermaphroditic contacts, similar to the one shown inFIG. 2, in mated relationship. In this preferred embodiment, it is shownhow the end portions A of the housing passages 13 confine theintermingled wires 12 to a specific space. Although it is not necessarythat the ends of each housing 10 contact each other, it is preferredthat they do. Such an arrangement prevents the buckling of the wiresshould an unusually high amount of axial force be exerted on thehousings 10. Each of the housings 10 include a second axial passage 14for receiving an electrical conductor (not shown).

,.FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of ahermaphroditic electrical contact 11 which characterizes this invention.In this embodiment, the wires 12 are mounted in the axial passage 13 inthe housing 10. However, the axial passage 13 is of uniformcross-section and there is no end portion which is spaced from the wiresmounted therein. This type of contact may be mated with the electricalcontacts shown in FIGS. 2, 6 or 7 and with contacts identical to thatshown in this figure.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of still another preferred embodimentof a hermaphroditic electrical contact which characterizes thisinvention. In this em bodiment, the wires 12 do not extend beyond theend of the housing 10, but terminate at or within the housing 10. Theend portion of the passage 13 has a larger cross-section than theinterior passage portion 8 for containing the wires 12 to apredetermined space when mated with the wires of another contact. Thistype of contact is especially adapted to receive the contact shown inFIGS. 5 and 7 but may also receive the contact shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a double ended hermaphroditicelectrical contact which embodies the principles of this invention. Inthis embodiment, the wires 12 of either end of the contact 11 can bemated with the contact wires 12 shown in FIGS. 2, 5, or 6 and withcontacts identical to that shown in this figure. In this embodiment, aplurality of wires 12 are securely held in axial alignment with respectto each other by a conduit which permits the extension of the wires 12from both ends of the conduit 10. An electrical conductor can beattached to the contact at either end of the wires or to the conduit.Alternately, the conduit 10 could be eliminated and the wires 12 brazedor soldered together so that the wires form a bundle of generallyparallel wires.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made to theinvention as set forth in the appended claims, and, in some cases,certain features of the invention may be used to advantage withoutcorresponding use of other features. For example, the configuration ofany of the components of the preferred embodiments may take variousforms (round, square, with shoulders, without shoulders, etc.) while theobjects may still be achieved. Accordingly, it is intended that theillustrative and descriptive'materials herein be used to illustrate theprinciples of the invention and not to limit the scope thereof.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An electrical contact comprising:

a conduit having an axial passage; and

several electrical conducting wires axially aligned and axially mountedwithin the passage of said conduit so that said wires extend beyond oneend of said conduit, each of said wires extending beyond the end of saidconduit including an end portion that terminates in an acutely angledsurface.

2. An electrical contact comprising:

an elongated electrical conductor having an axial passage that includesan end portion that terminates in an opening at one end of saidconductor and an interior passage portion, the end portion of saidpassage having a cross-sectional area larger than the cross-sectionalarea of the interior portion of said passage; and

several electrical wires axially aligned and axially mounted in saidaxial passage and extending a predetermined distance beyond the end ofsaid elongated conductor, said wires spaced from the wall of the endportion of said passage to permit the spreading of said wires within theend portion of said passage, each of said wires extending beyond the endof said conductors includes an end portion that terminates in a taperedend.

3. The combination as recited in claim 2 wherein the passage opening insaid elongated conductor includes a portion that is tapered inwardly.

4. The combination as recited in claim 2 wherein the predetermineddistance said wires extend beyond the end of said conductor is less thanthe length of the end portion of the axial passage.

5. An electrical connector assembly for connecting a first electricalconductor in predetermined electrical circuit relationship to a secondelectrical conductor, said connector assembly comprising:

a first assembly which includes:

a housing having a passage therethrough;

a duct disposed in said housing passage, said duct having a first endwhich extends beyond said housing;

an elongated conductor adapted to receive said first electricalconductor in one end, said elongated conductor having an axial passagethat includes an end passage portion that terminates in an opening atone end of said conductor and an interior passage portion, the endpassage portion having a cross-sectional area larger than thecross-sectional area of the interior passage portion; and plurality ofwires axially mounted in said axial passage and extending beyond the endof said conductor, said conductor mounted in said duct so that the endportion of said conductor, having said wires extending therefrom, doesnot extend out of the first end of said duct;

a second assembly which includes:

a housing having a passage therethrough, said passage adapted to receivethe first end of said first assembly duct that extends beyond said firstassembly housing;

a duct disposed in said housing passage, said duct having a first endwhich terminates within said housing passage;

an elongated conductor adapted to receive said second electricalconductor in one end, said elongated conductor having an axial passagethat includes an end passage portion that terminates in an opening atone of said conductor and an interior passage portion, the end passageportion having a cross-sectional area larger than the cross-sectionalarea of the interior passage portion; and

a plurality of wires axially mounted in said axial passage and extendingbeyond the end of said conductor, said conductor mounted in said duct sothat the end portion of said conductor, having said wires extendingtherefrom, extends out of the first end of said duct, so that when saidfirst assembly is in mated relationship with said second assembly thewires of said first and second assembly are intermingled with and incontact with each other whereby said first electrical conductor is inelectrical circuit relationship with said second' electrical conductor.

6. The combination as recited in claim 5 for connecting a firstplurality of electrical conductors in predetermined circuit relationshipwith a second plurality of electrical conductors, wherein said firstassembly housing has a plurality of passages therethrough each having anelongated conductor, a plurality of wires and a duct therein whichextends beyond said housing and wherein said second assembly housing hasa plurality of passages therethrough, arranged in the same manner as thepassages in said first assembly housing, each having an elongatedconductor, a plurality of wires and a duct therein that terminateswithin said second housing so that when said first assembly is in matedrelationship with said second assembly said first plurality ofconductors in said first assembly are in predetermined circuitrelationship with said second plurality of conductors in said secondassembly.

7. The combination as recited in claim 6 wherein said first assembly hasat least one duct which terminates within a first housing passage whichis also adapted to receive a duct from said second housing, and whereinsaid second housing includes at least one duct which extends beyond asecond housing passage whereby said first and second assemblies includeboth male and female members.

8. An electrical connector assembly for connecting a first electricalconductor in predetermined electrical circuit relationship to a secondelectrical conductor, said connector assembly comprising:

a first assembly which includes:

a housing having a passage therethrough;

an elongated conductor mounted in said housing passage and adapted toreceive said first electrical conductor at one end, said elongatedconductor having an axial passage that includes an end passage portionthat terminates in an opening at the other end of said elongatedconductor and an interior passage portion, the end passage portionhaving a cross-sectional area larger than the cross-sectional area ofthe interior passage portion; and

a plurality of axially aligned wires axially mounted in said interiorpassage portion and extending through, out of, but spaced from theinside walls of the end passage portion of said elongated conductor, theother ends of said wires terminating in free ends each of.which includesa tapered end portion, said elongated conductor mounted in said housingso that the end portion of said elongated conductor, having said wirestherein, extends out of the first passage of said first assemblyhousing; and

a second assembly which includes:

a housing having a passage therethrough, said passage adapted to receivethe wires of said first assembly that extends out of said first assemblyhousing passage;

an elongated conductor adapted to receive said second electricalconductor at one end, said elongated conductor having an axial passagethat includes an end passage portion that terminates in an opening atthe other end of said elongated conductor and an interior passageportion, the end passage portion having a crosssectional area largerthan the cross-sectional area of the interior passage portion; and

a plurality of axially aligned wires axially mounted in said interiorpassage portion of said second assembly elongated conductor andextending through, out of, but spaced from the walls of the end passageportion of said elongated conductor, the other ends of said wiresterminating in free ends each for which includes a tapered end portion,said elongated conductor mounted in said second assembly housing so thatthe end portion of said conductor, having said wires therein, terminateswithin the passage of said second assembly housing, so that when saidfirst assembly is in. mated relationship with said second assembly thewires of said first and second assemblies are intermingled with and incontact with each other within the confines of said end portions of saidelongated conductors of said first and second assemblies, whereby saidfirst electrical conductor is in electrical circuit relationship withsaid second electrical conductor.

9. The combination as recited in claim 8 for connecting a firstplurality of electrical conductors in predetermined circuit relationshipwith a second plurality of electrical conductors, wherein said firstassembly housing has a plurality of passages therethrough each havingmounted therein an elongated conductor adapted to receive one of saidelectrical conductors of said first plurality at one end and a pluralityof wires mounted in each of the other ends of said elongated conductors,said elongated conductors of said first assembly having end portionsthat extend beyond said housing passage and wherein said second assemblyhousing has a plurality of passages therethrough, arranged in the samemanner as the passages in said first assembly housing, each of saidpassages of said second housing having mounted therein an elongatedconductor adapted to receive one of said electrical conductors of saidsecond plurality at one end and a plurality of wires mounted in each ofthe other ends of said elongated conductors of said second assembly,said elongated conductors of said second assembly having end portionswhich terminate within said second housing so that when said firstassembly is in mated relationship with said second assembly said firstplurality of conductors in said first assembly are in predeterminedcircuit relationship with said second plurality of conductors in saidsecond assembly.

10. The combination as recited in claim 8 wherein 35 said first assemblyhas at least one elongated conductor which terminates ,within one ofsaid first housing passages which is also adapted to receive anelongated conductor mounted in said second housing, and wherein saidsecond housing includes at least one elongated conductor which extendsbeyond one of said second housing passages whereby said first and secondassemblies include both male and female members.

11. An electrical connector assembly for connecting a first electricalconductor in predetermined electrical circuit relationship to a secondelectrical conductor, said connector assembly comprising:

a first assembly which includes: 7 i

a housing having a passage therethrough;

an elongated conductor, mounted in said housing passage and adapted toreceive said first electrical conductor at one end, said elongatedconductor having an axial passage that terminates in an opening at theother end of said conductor; and

a plurality of axially aligned wires mounted in said axial passage andextending beyond the endof said elongated conductor, said elongatedconductor mounted in said housing so that the end portion of saidelongated conductor, having said wires extending therefrom, extends outof the passage of said housing; and

a second assembly which includes:

a housing having a passage therethrough, said passage adapted to receivethe end of said elongated conductor that extends beyond said firstassembly housing;

an elongated conductor adapted to receive said second electricalconductor at one end, said elongated conductor having an axial passagethat includes an end passage portion that terminates in an opening atthe other end of said elongated conductor and an interior passageportion, the endpassage portion having a cross sectional area largerthan the cross-sectional area of the interior passage portion; and aplurality of axially aligned wires axially mounted in said interiorpassage portion and extending into but spaced from the inside walls ofthe end passage portion of said elongated conductor, said elongatedconductor mounted in said second assembly housing so that the endportion of said conductor, having said wires extending therefrom,terminates within the passage of said second assembly housing, so thatwhen said first assembly is in mated relationship with said secondassembly the wires of said first and second assemblies are intermingledwith and in contact with each other whereby said first electricalconductor is in electrical circuit relationship with said secondelectrical conductor. 12. The combination as recited in claim 11 forconnecting a first plurality of electrical conductors in predeterminedcircuit relationship with a second plurality of electrical conductors,wherein said first assembly housing has a plurality of passagestherethrough each having mounted therein an elongated conductor adaptedto receive one of said electrical conductors of said first plurality atone end and a plurality of wires mounted in each of the other ends ofsaid elongated conductors, said elongated conductors of said firstassembly having end portions which extend beyond said housing passageand whereby said second assembly housing has a plurality of passagestherethrough, arranged in the same manner as the passages in said firstassembly housing, each of said passages of said second housing havingmounted therein an elongated conductor adapted to receive one of saidelectrical conductors of said second plurality at one end and aplurality of wires mounted in each of the other ends of said elongatedconductor, said elongated conductors of said second assembly having endportions which terminate within said second housing so that whensaidfirst assembly is in mated relationship with said second assemblysaid first plurality of conductors in said first assembly are inpredetennined circuit relationship with said second plurality ofconductors in said second assembly.

13. An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein eachof said wires of said first and second assemblies includes a free endhaving a tapered end portion.

14. The combination as recited in claim 11 wherein said first assemblyhas at least one elongated conductor which terminates within one of saidfirst housing passages which is also adapted to receive an elongatedconductor mounted in said second housing, and wherein said secondhousing includes at least one elongated conductor which extends beyondone of said second housing passages whereby said first and secondassemblies include both male and female members.

15. An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein eachof said wires of said first and second assemblies includes a free endhaving a tapered end portion. I

16. An electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein eachof said wires of said first and second assemblies includes a free endhaving a tapered end portion.

17. An electrical connector assembly for connecting a first electricalconductor in predetermined electrical circuit relationship to a secondelectrical conductor, said connector assembly comprising:

a first assembly which includes:

a housing having a passage therethrough;

an elongated conductor, mounted in said housing passage and adapted toreceive said first electrical conductor at one end, said elongatedconductor having an axial passage that terminates in an opening at theother end of said conductor; and

a plurality of axially aligned wires mounted in said axial passage,-said wires terminating in a free end each having an acutely angled endportion; and

a second assembly which includes:

a housing having a passage therethrough, said passage adaptedto receivethe end of said elongated con'ductor of said first assembly;

an elongated conductor adapted to receive said second electricalconductor at one end, said elongated conductor having an axial passagethat tenninates in an opening at the other end of said conductor; and

a plurality of wires axially aligned and mounted in said axial passageof said second assembly elongated conductor, said wires terminating in afree end each having an acutely angled end portion, said elongatedconductor mounted in said second assembly housing so that the endportion of said conductor, having said wires mounted therein, terminateswithin the passage of said second assembly housing, whereby when saidfirst assembly is placed in mated relationship with said second assemblythe angled end portions at the free ends of, said wires of each assemblyfacilitates the intermingling of said wires without the bending thereofso that said wires of said first assembly may be repeatedly placed inelectrical circuit relationship with said wires of said second assembly.

18. The combination as recited in claim 17 for connecting a firstplurality of electrical conductors in predetermined circuit relationshipwith a second plurality of electrical conductors, wherein said firstassembly housing has a plurality of passages therethrough each havingmounted therein an elongated conductor adapted to receive one of saidelectrical conductors of said first plurality at one end and a pluralityof wires mounted in each of the other ends of said elongated conductors,said elongated conductors of said first assembly having end portionswhich extend beyond said housing and wherein said second assemblyhousing has a plurality of passages therethrough, arranged in the samemanner as the passages in said first assembly housing, each of saidpassages of said second housing having mounted therein an elongatedconductor adapted to receive one of said electrical conductors of saidfirst plurality at one end and a plurality of wires mounted in each ofthe other ends of said elongated conductors, said elongated conductorsof said second assembly having end portions which terminate within saidsecond housing so that when said first assembly is in mated relationshipwith said second assembly said first plurality of conductors in saidfirst assembly are in I conductor mounted in said second housing, andwherein said second housing includes at least one elongated conductorwhich extends beyond one of said second housing passages whereby saidfirst and second assemblies includes both male and female members.

20. The combination as recited in claim 18 wherein said first assemblyhas at least one elongated conductor which terminates within one of saidfirst housing passages which is also adapted to receive an elongatedconductor mounted in said second housing, and wherein said secondhousing includes at least one elongated conductor which extends beyondone of said second housing passages whereby said first and secondassemblies include both male and female members.

1. An electrical contact comprising: a conduit having an axial passage;and several electrical conducting wires axially aligned and axiallymounted within the passage of said conduit so that said wires extendbeyond one end of said conduit, each of said wires extending beyond theend of said conduit including an end portion that terminates in anacutely angled surface.
 2. An electrical contact comprising: anelongated electrical conductor having an axial passage that includes anend portion that terminates in an opening at one end of said conductorand an interior passage portion, the end portion of said passage havinga cross-sectional area larger than the cross-sectional area of theinterior portion of said passage; and several electrical wires axiallyaligned and axially mounted in said axial passage and extending apredetermined distance beyond the end of said elongated conductor, saidwires spaced from the wall of the end portion of said passage to permitthe spreading of said wires within the end portion of said passage, eachof said wires extending beyond the end of said conductors includes anend portion that terminates in a tapered end.
 3. The combination asrecited in claim 2 wherein the passage opening in said elongatedconductor includes a portion that is tapered inwardly.
 4. Thecombination as recited in claim 2 wherein the predetermined distancesaid wires extend beyond the end of said conductor is less than thelength of the end portion of the axial passage.
 5. An electricalconnector assembly for connecting a first electrical conductor inpredetermined electrical circuit relationship to a second electricalconductor, said connector assembly comprising: a first assembly whichincludes: a housing having a passage therethrough; a duct disposed insaid housing passage, said duct having a first end which extends beyondsaid housing; an elongated conductor adapted to receive said firstelectrical conductor in one end, said elongated conductor having anaxial passage that includes an end passage portion that terminates in anopening at one end of said conductor and an interior passage portion,the end passage portion having a cross-sectional area larger than thecross-sectional area of the interior passage portion; and a plurality ofwires axially mounted in said axial passage and extending beyond the endof said conductor, said conductor mounted in said duct so that the endportion of said conductor, having said wires extending therefrom, doesnot extend out of the first end of said duct; a second assembly whichincludes: a housing having a passage therethrough, said passage adaptedto receive the first end of said first assembly duct that extends beyondsaid first assembly housing; a duct disposed in said housing passage,said duct having a first end which terminates within said housingpassage; an elongated conductor adapted to receive said secondelectrical conductor in one end, said elongated conductor having anaxial passage that includes an end passage portion that terminates in anopening at one of said conductor and an interior passage portion, theend passage portion having a cross-sectional area larger than thecross-sectional area of the interior passage portion; and a plurality ofwires axially mounted in said axial passage and extending beyond the endof said conductor, said conductor mounted in said duct so that the endportion of said conductor, having said wires extending therefrom,extends out of the first end of said duct, so that when said firstassembly is in mated relationship with said second assembly the wires ofsaid first and second assembly are intermingled with and in contact witheach other whereby said first electrical conductor is in electricalcircuit relationship with said second electrical conductor.
 6. Thecombination as recited in claim 5 for connecting a first plurality ofelectrical conductors in predetermined circuit relationship wiTh asecond plurality of electrical conductors, wherein said first assemblyhousing has a plurality of passages therethrough each having anelongated conductor, a plurality of wires and a duct therein whichextends beyond said housing and wherein said second assembly housing hasa plurality of passages therethrough, arranged in the same manner as thepassages in said first assembly housing, each having an elongatedconductor, a plurality of wires and a duct therein that terminateswithin said second housing so that when said first assembly is in matedrelationship with said second assembly said first plurality ofconductors in said first assembly are in predetermined circuitrelationship with said second plurality of conductors in said secondassembly.
 7. The combination as recited in claim 6 wherein said firstassembly has at least one duct which terminates within a first housingpassage which is also adapted to receive a duct from said secondhousing, and wherein said second housing includes at least one ductwhich extends beyond a second housing passage whereby said first andsecond assemblies include both male and female members.
 8. An electricalconnector assembly for connecting a first electrical conductor inpredetermined electrical circuit relationship to a second electricalconductor, said connector assembly comprising: a first assembly whichincludes: a housing having a passage therethrough; an elongatedconductor mounted in said housing passage and adapted to receive saidfirst electrical conductor at one end, said elongated conductor havingan axial passage that includes an end passage portion that terminates inan opening at the other end of said elongated conductor and an interiorpassage portion, the end passage portion having a cross-sectional arealarger than the cross-sectional area of the interior passage portion;and a plurality of axially aligned wires axially mounted in saidinterior passage portion and extending through, out of, but spaced fromthe inside walls of the end passage portion of said elongated conductor,the other ends of said wires terminating in free ends each of whichincludes a tapered end portion, said elongated conductor mounted in saidhousing so that the end portion of said elongated conductor, having saidwires therein, extends out of the first passage of said first assemblyhousing; and a second assembly which includes: a housing having apassage therethrough, said passage adapted to receive the wires of saidfirst assembly that extends out of said first assembly housing passage;an elongated conductor adapted to receive said second electricalconductor at one end, said elongated conductor having an axial passagethat includes an end passage portion that terminates in an opening atthe other end of said elongated conductor and an interior passageportion, the end passage portion having a cross-sectional area largerthan the cross-sectional area of the interior passage portion; and aplurality of axially aligned wires axially mounted in said interiorpassage portion of said second assembly elongated conductor andextending through, out of, but spaced from the walls of the end passageportion of said elongated conductor, the other ends of said wiresterminating in free ends each for which includes a tapered end portion,said elongated conductor mounted in said second assembly housing so thatthe end portion of said conductor, having said wires therein, terminateswithin the passage of said second assembly housing, so that when saidfirst assembly is in mated relationship with said second assembly thewires of said first and second assemblies are intermingled with and incontact with each other within the confines of said end portions of saidelongated conductors of said first and second assemblies, whereby saidfirst electrical conductor is in electrical circuit relationship withsaid second electrical conductor.
 9. The combination as recited in claim8 for connecting a first plurality of elEctrical conductors inpredetermined circuit relationship with a second plurality of electricalconductors, wherein said first assembly housing has a plurality ofpassages therethrough each having mounted therein an elongated conductoradapted to receive one of said electrical conductors of said firstplurality at one end and a plurality of wires mounted in each of theother ends of said elongated conductors, said elongated conductors ofsaid first assembly having end portions that extend beyond said housingpassage and wherein said second assembly housing has a plurality ofpassages therethrough, arranged in the same manner as the passages insaid first assembly housing, each of said passages of said secondhousing having mounted therein an elongated conductor adapted to receiveone of said electrical conductors of said second plurality at one endand a plurality of wires mounted in each of the other ends of saidelongated conductors of said second assembly, said elongated conductorsof said second assembly having end portions which terminate within saidsecond housing so that when said first assembly is in mated relationshipwith said second assembly said first plurality of conductors in saidfirst assembly are in predetermined circuit relationship with saidsecond plurality of conductors in said second assembly.
 10. Thecombination as recited in claim 8 wherein said first assembly has atleast one elongated conductor which terminates within one of said firsthousing passages which is also adapted to receive an elongated conductormounted in said second housing, and wherein said second housing includesat least one elongated conductor which extends beyond one of said secondhousing passages whereby said first and second assemblies include bothmale and female members.
 11. An electrical connector assembly forconnecting a first electrical conductor in predetermined electricalcircuit relationship to a second electrical conductor, said connectorassembly comprising: a first assembly which includes: a housing having apassage therethrough; an elongated conductor, mounted in said housingpassage and adapted to receive said first electrical conductor at oneend, said elongated conductor having an axial passage that terminates inan opening at the other end of said conductor; and a plurality ofaxially aligned wires mounted in said axial passage and extending beyondthe end of said elongated conductor, said elongated conductor mounted insaid housing so that the end portion of said elongated conductor, havingsaid wires extending therefrom, extends out of the passage of saidhousing; and a second assembly which includes: a housing having apassage therethrough, said passage adapted to receive the end of saidelongated conductor that extends beyond said first assembly housing; anelongated conductor adapted to receive said second electrical conductorat one end, said elongated conductor having an axial passage thatincludes an end passage portion that terminates in an opening at theother end of said elongated conductor and an interior passage portion,the end passage portion having a cross-sectional area larger than thecross-sectional area of the interior passage portion; and a plurality ofaxially aligned wires axially mounted in said interior passage portionand extending into but spaced from the inside walls of the end passageportion of said elongated conductor, said elongated conductor mounted insaid second assembly housing so that the end portion of said conductor,having said wires extending therefrom, terminates within the passage ofsaid second assembly housing, so that when said first assembly is inmated relationship with said second assembly the wires of said first andsecond assemblies are intermingled with and in contact with each otherwhereby said first electrical conductor is in electrical circuitrelationship with said second electrical conductor.
 12. The combinationas recited in claim 11 for connecting a firsT plurality of electricalconductors in predetermined circuit relationship with a second pluralityof electrical conductors, wherein said first assembly housing has aplurality of passages therethrough each having mounted therein anelongated conductor adapted to receive one of said electrical conductorsof said first plurality at one end and a plurality of wires mounted ineach of the other ends of said elongated conductors, said elongatedconductors of said first assembly having end portions which extendbeyond said housing passage and whereby said second assembly housing hasa plurality of passages therethrough, arranged in the same manner as thepassages in said first assembly housing, each of said passages of saidsecond housing having mounted therein an elongated conductor adapted toreceive one of said electrical conductors of said second plurality atone end and a plurality of wires mounted in each of the other ends ofsaid elongated conductor, said elongated conductors of said secondassembly having end portions which terminate within said second housingso that when said first assembly is in mated relationship with saidsecond assembly said first plurality of conductors in said firstassembly are in predetermined circuit relationship with said secondplurality of conductors in said second assembly.
 13. An electricalconnector assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein each of said wires ofsaid first and second assemblies includes a free end having a taperedend portion.
 14. The combination as recited in claim 11 wherein saidfirst assembly has at least one elongated conductor which terminateswithin one of said first housing passages which is also adapted toreceive an elongated conductor mounted in said second housing, andwherein said second housing includes at least one elongated conductorwhich extends beyond one of said second housing passages whereby saidfirst and second assemblies include both male and female members.
 15. Anelectrical connector assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein each ofsaid wires of said first and second assemblies includes a free endhaving a tapered end portion.
 16. An electrical connector assembly asrecited in claim 11 wherein each of said wires of said first and secondassemblies includes a free end having a tapered end portion.
 17. Anelectrical connector assembly for connecting a first electricalconductor in predetermined electrical circuit relationship to a secondelectrical conductor, said connector assembly comprising: a firstassembly which includes: a housing having a passage therethrough; anelongated conductor, mounted in said housing passage and adapted toreceive said first electrical conductor at one end, said elongatedconductor having an axial passage that terminates in an opening at theother end of said conductor; and a plurality of axially aligned wiresmounted in said axial passage, said wires terminating in a free end eachhaving an acutely angled end portion; and a second assembly whichincludes: a housing having a passage therethrough, said passage adaptedto receive the end of said elongated conductor of said first assembly;an elongated conductor adapted to receive said second electricalconductor at one end, said elongated conductor having an axial passagethat terminates in an opening at the other end of said conductor; and aplurality of wires axially aligned and mounted in said axial passage ofsaid second assembly elongated conductor, said wires terminating in afree end each having an acutely angled end portion, said elongatedconductor mounted in said second assembly housing so that the endportion of said conductor, having said wires mounted therein, terminateswithin the passage of said second assembly housing, whereby when saidfirst assembly is placed in mated relationship with said second assemblythe angled end portions at the free ends of said wires of each assemblyfacilitates the intermingling of said wires without the bending thereofso that said wires of said first assembly may be repeatedly placed inelectrical circuit relationship with said wires of said second assembly.18. The combination as recited in claim 17 for connecting a firstplurality of electrical conductors in predetermined circuit relationshipwith a second plurality of electrical conductors, wherein said firstassembly housing has a plurality of passages therethrough each havingmounted therein an elongated conductor adapted to receive one of saidelectrical conductors of said first plurality at one end and a pluralityof wires mounted in each of the other ends of said elongated conductors,said elongated conductors of said first assembly having end portionswhich extend beyond said housing and wherein said second assemblyhousing has a plurality of passages therethrough, arranged in the samemanner as the passages in said first assembly housing, each of saidpassages of said second housing having mounted therein an elongatedconductor adapted to receive one of said electrical conductors of saidfirst plurality at one end and a plurality of wires mounted in each ofthe other ends of said elongated conductors, said elongated conductorsof said second assembly having end portions which terminate within saidsecond housing so that when said first assembly is in mated relationshipwith said second assembly said first plurality of conductors in saidfirst assembly are in predetermined circuit relationship with saidsecond plurality of conductors in said second assembly.
 19. Thecombination as recited in claim 17 wherein said first assembly has atleast one elongated conductor which terminates within one of said firsthousing passages which is also adapted to receive an elongated conductormounted in said second housing, and wherein said second housing includesat least one elongated conductor which extends beyond one of said secondhousing passages whereby said first and second assemblies includes bothmale and female members.
 20. The combination as recited in claim 18wherein said first assembly has at least one elongated conductor whichterminates within one of said first housing passages which is alsoadapted to receive an elongated conductor mounted in said secondhousing, and wherein said second housing includes at least one elongatedconductor which extends beyond one of said second housing passageswhereby said first and second assemblies include both male and femalemembers.